- Title: SOCCER-SPAIN-ATLETICO-LUIS Felipe Luis is unveiled at Atletico Madrid
- Date: 29th July 2015
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JULY 29, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF VICENTE CALDERON STADIUM LEFT BACK FILIPE LUIZ ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM FILIPE LUIZ POSING FOR MEDIA VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID LEFT BACK FILIPE LUIS, SAYING: "When I had the opportunity to come back I felt that
- Embargoed: 13th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA14EDIP3VMPH38RDL04HR0WC5M
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Atletico Madrid welcomed back defender Filipe Luis on Wednesday (July 29) after the Brazilian rejoined Atletico Madrid from Chelsea in a reported 16 million euro ($17.66 million) deal.
Filipe Luiz said when he had the opportunity to return to Atletico he told his manager that was his only option if he was not staying at Chelsea.
"When I had the opportunity to come back I felt that was my desire for me and my family. I told my manager that my only option was Atletico Madrid if not I would stay (at Chelsea). I still had a two-year contract and I would had no problem to go ahead with them, however If Atletico Madrid were really interested and did want to sign me I would prefer that," he said at his presentation in the Vicente Calderon stadium.
The 29-year-old returned to the Calderon having played 26 matches for Chelsea last season, but he never fully won the confidence of manager Jose Mourinho.
Atletico's Argentinean coach Diego Simeone and his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho have shown similar passion for the game from the touchline.
Both are strong personalities who have clashed with authorities and divided opinions amongst supporters and in the media.
Asked about the differences between the two coaches, Filipe Luis said they only share their passion to win.
"They are very different, the training sessions are completely different, however what they do share is a tremendous ambition to win. They live for football and they have passion for football and victories are everything for them. This is what they share but everything else is very different," he said.
Filipe Luis joined Chelsea on the back of an impressive campaign for Atletico in which his surging runs from left-back helped his side win La Liga and reach the Champions League final in 2014.
The Brazilian said he joined Chelsea to experience the Premier League.
"They are very different. The Premier League is much better organized, all stadiums are packed, matches are more attractive as there are very few fouls and the game hardly stops. On the other hand La Liga has something special, every team plays very well and all of them have skill, over there it is more physical," he said.
Simeone brought in Guilherme Siqueira and Cristian Ansaldi after Filipe Luis left but neither was convincing last season.
Atletico have been busy in the transfer market, with Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Stefan Savic among the players arriving while Arda Turan and Miranda have left the club.
Asked about his goals for the next season, Filipe Luis decided to stick to Simeone´s famous phrase "we will go match by match".
"My coach could kill me later (If he says Atletico can win the league)…I have to stick to the match by match. The squad is tremendous, the signings were incredible and that adds extra pressure as we have to give back to the club the investment they have made with victories and goals," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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